Pokémon: Ash's New Journey

The battle was over.

Drew had lost.

For a moment, he stood still, absorbing the reality of his defeat.

But then, a small smile crept onto his face.

"May… you've finally surpassed me."

On the other side of the battlefield, May stood in stunned silence, struggling to process her victory.

She had just defeated her lifelong rival.

The overwhelming joy she felt was akin to the moment Ash had triumphed over Gary in the Johto League's Silver Conference.

"Blaziken!"

Her loyal partner, Blaziken, rushed to her side, its fiery eyes gleaming with pride.

May looked down at her Pokémon and smiled—a warm, genuine smile filled with relief and happiness.

All the hard work, all the training, all the struggles… it had all paid off.

She had done it. She had made it into the Top 8 of the Grand Festival!

The excitement in the crowd continued to build as more battles unfolded, showcasing the skills of the remaining Coordinators.

Back in the waiting room, May and Drew exchanged glances. Drew gave her a small nod of acknowledgment—a silent congratulations.

Their attention soon turned to the large screen broadcasting the next match.

It was Solidad's battle.

And from the very first move, it became clear—she was in a league of her own.

She dominated her opponent effortlessly, maintaining absolute control over the battlefield.

Watching Solidad's calm and elegant performance, both May and Drew fell silent.

She was on another level.

As the tournament progressed, eight contestants successfully advanced to the quarterfinals.

By midday, the competition paused for a two-hour intermission, giving everyone time to rest and recharge before the afternoon matches.

Then, at exactly 2:00 PM, the battles resumed.

May and Solidad both secured victories, making it to the Top 4 without facing each other.

But fate was inevitable.

In the semifinals, May finally came face-to-face with Solidad.

She gave it everything she had—fighting with all her strength, creativity, and strategy.

But Solidad had years of experience and a level of elegance in battle that May had yet to reach.

Her mastery of Contests, her Pokémon's synergy, and her dazzling performances were simply too much.

Despite her best efforts, May lost.

The moment the battle ended, Misty and Anabel rushed to her side, offering words of comfort.

But before May could react, she suddenly felt strong arms wrap around her.

It was Ash.

Holding her gently, he wiped away the tears that had begun to form at the corners of her eyes.

"You lost this time," he said softly. "But don't be discouraged. You've improved so much. Solidad has been competing for over five years, while you've only been on this journey for one. The fact that you've come this far, at this speed, is amazing."

Hearing those words, May's heart felt warm.

She looked at everyone surrounding her, their faces filled with support and admiration.

She had given it her all.

She had no regrets.

And just like Ash had always done—she would stand up and keep moving forward.

That evening, the Grand Festival Finals took place.

As expected, Solidad emerged victorious, claiming the title of Champion.

With the competition over, Brock and Ivy bid farewell to the group, as Brock's parents had returned home and he needed to head back.

Now, it was just Ash, Misty, May, and Anabel.

Four people.

Four different emotions.

That night, none of them could sleep.

A New Journey Begins

The next morning, the group gathered at the entrance of Indigo Plateau.

Misty was the first to speak.

"Ash…"

Her voice was filled with hesitation.

She didn't want to leave.

But at the same time, she had no choice.

Her three sisters had left her with way too many responsibilities back at Cerulean Gym.

Ash understood immediately.

"Misty," he said, smiling softly, "over the past few months, you've told me that I've changed a lot. But you've changed too. You're kinder, more understanding, and you've even taken steps to overcome your fear of Bug-type Pokémon. Your training as a Water-type specialist has improved so much. Right now, you're already amazing."

As he spoke, he playfully ruffled her hair.

Misty pouted but didn't argue.

She had changed.

Once, she used to get endlessly frustrated with Ash's reckless behavior.

But now…

She admired the way he had grown.

A Journey to Alto Mare

To celebrate Ash's victory at the Battle Frontier—and to make Misty's farewell happier—the group decided to take a trip to Alto Mare, the fabled City of Water.

It was an opportunity for Ash to meet Latias again, and for everyone to enjoy the legendary Water Chariot Race.

But before that, Ash had made special arrangements.

Two days earlier, he had contacted Officer Jenny, asking if she could bring his Squirtle to him.

Unfortunately, Jenny had taken the entire Squirtle Squad on a mission outside the region.

However, she had promised to send Squirtle ahead to the Pokémon Center in Alto Mare.

That meant Squirtle would be waiting for them when they arrived!

Excited, the group set off.

One Week Later – Arrival in Alto Mare

After a week of traveling, Ash and his friends finally arrived in Alto Mare.

They wasted no time heading straight to the Pokémon Center.

Officer Jenny had already delivered Squirtle to Nurse Joy.

"Wow! Ash's Squirtle, huh?" Misty grinned, pulling out a Poké Ball. "Good thing I asked my Gym to send my Corsola over!"

May's eyes sparkled with excitement.

"I can't wait to see it! My Wartortle and I have been wanting to meet Ash's Squirtle for so long!"

She quickly released her Wartortle from its Poké Ball.

"Wartortle!"

Just as they were about to enter the Pokémon Center, a familiar voice called out.

"Squirtle, Squirtle!"

A moment later, a tiny blue turtle wearing stylish sunglasses appeared—striking a dramatic pose.

Ash's Squirtle had arrived!

Author's Note:

You've all been waiting for Squirtle's return—and here it is! The coolest, strongest, and most adorable Squirtle is back! Stay tuned for what happens next! 🚀

--------------

T/N:

Access 40 Chapters in Advance on my

P@treon: [email protected]/PokePals